Modeling fish growth and reproduction in the context of the Dynamic Energy Budget theory to predict environmental impact on anchovy spawning duration

Abstract

Spawning location and timing are critical for understanding fish larval survival. The impact of a changing environment on spawning patterns is, however, poorly understood. A novel approach is to consider the impact of the environment on individual life histories and subsequent spawnings. In the present work, we extend the Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) theory to investigate how environment variability impacts the spawning timing and duration of a multiple-batch spawning species. The model is successfully applied to reproduce the growth and reproduction of anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) in the Bay of Biscay. The model captures realistically the start and ending of the spawning season, including the timing of the spawning events, and the change in egg number per batch. Using a realistic seasonal forcing of temperature and food availability derived from a bio-physical model, our simulation results show that two thirds of the total spawned mass already accumulates before the start of the spawning season and that the condition factor increases with body length. These simulation results are in accordance with previous estimations and observations on growth and reproduction of anchovy. Furthermore, we show how individuals of equal length can differ in reproductive performance according to the environmental conditions they encounter prior to the spawning season. Hatch date turns out to be key for fecundity at age-1 as it partly controls the ability to build up reserves allocated to reproduction. We suggest the model can be used to realistically predict spawning in spatially and temporally varying environments and provide initial conditions for bio-physical models used to predict larval survival.

A dynamic energy budget (DEB) model for the energy usage and reproduction of the Icelandic capelin (Mallotus villosus)

“…An approximate value δ = 0.161 (n = 22, p < 0.001) was obtained by fitting a weight-length relationship of the type W = (δL) 3 to immature capelin measured in January-February (Vilhjálmsson, 1994). The value of the shape coefficient for capelin is similar to the shape coefficient 0.172 found for anchovy, reported in Pecquerie et al (2009).…”

“…For the Icelandic capelin, we use a basic form of the DEB model with one food substrate and one type of reserve. These assumptions can be generalized (Kooijman, 2010).DEB theory has been successfully applied to anchovy (Engraulis engrasicolus) in the Bay of Biscay (Pecquerie et al, 2009) where their whole life cycle was modeled. The capelin and anchovies are similar fish in size and energetics, and both store energy mostly as lipids in their muscle.…”

“…DEB theory has been successfully applied to anchovy (Engraulis engrasicolus) in the Bay of Biscay (Pecquerie et al, 2009) where their whole life cycle was modeled. The capelin and anchovies are similar fish in size and energetics, and both store energy mostly as lipids in their muscle.…”

Validation of age determination using otoliths of the European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus L.) in the Bay of Biscay

“…It provided the foundations for several studies on spatial distribution of adults at spawning time Vaz et al 2002;Ibaibarriaga et al 2013) and on the modelling of otolith shape (Gonzalez-Salas and Lenfant 2007) and growth (Hernández et al 2009, Pecquerie et al 2009. Beyond this, recent studies on otolith micro-increment formation of this anchovy have enabled the daily rhythm of deposition to be established in larvae (Aldanondo et al 2008), as well as in juveniles and adults (Cermeño et al 2003), and the method for otolith daily increment examination (Cermeño et al 2008).…”

Variability in Fish Tissue Proximate Composition is Consistent with Indirect Effects of Hypoxia in Chesapeake Bay Tributaries

“…In particular, stock-recruitment relationships can be improved by including environmental factors that affect stock productivity. For instance, environmental conditions that are encountered prior to spawning can affect the reproductive performance of European Anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus (Pecquerie et al 2009). Comprehensive models that include variability in reproduction (e.g., weight-and agespecific fecundity; Marteinsdottir and Begg 2002;Spencer and Dorn 2013) are currently under development, and additional refinements should be considered.…”